Electric can opener



Get. 30, 1962 J. NISENSON 3,060,558

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 13, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 lllm'muln z I ll .1 7.2 I

H o ,7 gg FIT 1 4 la W30 Oct. 30, 1962 J. NISENSON 3,050,568

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 13, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 30, 1962 J. NISENSON 3,060,568

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 15, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Ofiice 3,060,568 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,06tl,568 ELECTRIE CAN OPENER Jules Nisenson, Rye, N.Y., assiguor to Darmon Tool 8: Manufacturing Corp, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 55,674 Claims. (Cl. 304) This invention relates generally to the field of electric can openers employed for severing the lid of a metallic can during the process of opening the same. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details permitting advantages in operation heretofore unavailable.

In the present state of development of the art, most electrically powered can openers differ from manually operated ones in the provision of electric means for driving a small toothed wheel engaged with the rim of a can to drive the same beneath a rotary blade resembling in most respects a similar hand-operated device. In such devices, the toothed wheel rotates about a relatively fixed axis, and lever means is used to translationally move the pivotally mounted blade into pierced engagement with the can. Upon the interlocking of the can between the wheel and the blade, an electric motor is activated which drives the can for so long as the can is in engaged condition.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved can opener construction in which the manual positioning of a can in cutting position commences the operation of the device, following which the toothed wheel is orbitally moved to engage the can and provide suflicient power to permit the blade to pierce the lid portion thereof, so that all substantial effort on the part of the user is completely avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved can opener construction in which operation of the motordriven parts thereof is interrupted upon completion of the severing of the lid from the rim portion of the can, and to hold the can in engaged position until such time as it is desired to disengage the same.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of improved can opener construction in which the manual disengagement of an open can thererfom is substantially effortless, and in which additional force may be applied should the can become in any manner jammed in association with the device.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of improved can opener construction possessed of the above advantages in which the cost of fabrication may be of a relatively low order, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that substantially all of the moving parts may be concealed within an attractive housing to be mounted upon a wall or other vertical surface.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corersponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the central portion of FIGURE 1, with certain of the component parts removed.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view correspond ing to that seen in FIGURE 3, but showing certain of the component parts in altered relative position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 5, but showing certain of the component parts in altered relative position.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 77 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 7, but showing a can in position prior to severance of the lid therefrom.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 9-9 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view as seen from the plane Ill-10 in FIGURE 4.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: an outer casing element 11, prime mover means 12, switch means 13, can-driving means 14 and can-holding means 15.

The outer casing element 11 is preferably formed from sheet metal, although the same may be also formed from injection molded synthetic resinous materials. It includes a front wall 17, an upper wall 18, side walls 19 and 20, a bottom wall 21 and a rear wall 22. Bracket means 23 may be of any suitable type permitting the device to be attached to a vertical surface such as a wall of a room, cabinet or the like.

The prime mover means 12 includes an electric motor 27 having a motion output shaft 2% and suitable reduction means including a pinion 29, a gear 30 on a shaft 31 which also mounts a pinion 32. The pinion 32 drives a gear 33 on shaft 34.

The switch means .13 includes a standard precision type switch 37 of a normally open circuit type, the same being mounted upon an intermediate wall or support 38. The switch is moved to a closed circuit position by a cam 39 mounted upon a horizontally arranged shaft 40, a spring 41 serving to cause contact with the switch. The shaft extends through an opening 42 in the front wall 17, where it supports a lever member 43. Movement imparted by the spring 41 is limited by a stop member 44' on the front face of the front wall 17. The lever member 43 includes a feeler portion 45 which extends into the position normally occupied by the lid of a can '46 when the lid is in relatively unsevered condition.

The can driving means 14 coacts with an angularly disposed cutting blade 47 supported for rotation on mounting means 48 by the front wall -17. A can-guiding stud 49 maintains the can in proper orientation with respect to the blade 47 as does a projection 50 which engages the outer surface of the can 46. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the projection 49 extends outwardly of the wall 17, while the projection 50 is supported by a circularly shaped mounting plate 51 fixed with respect to the wall 17.

Surrounding the plate 51 is an annularly shaped plate 52 having a central opening 53 engageable with the plate 51 which serves as pivotal support means. A disengagement stud 54 projects inwardly from the plate 52, the purpose of which will become more fully apparent hereinafter. Projecting outwardly of the plate 52 is a toothed wheel 55 of conventional type, the same being supported on a shaft 56 extending through a curved opening 57 in the wall 17. The shaft 56 is supported upon a radial member 58, and is capable of orbital motion with respect to the shaft 34. Motion is imparted to the shaft 56 by a gear 59 thereon, the gear 59 being driven by a pinion 60 on the shaft 34.

The can-holding means 15 performs automatically a function previously manually accomplished in prior art devices. It includes a small pinion 63 on the shaft 34 which drives a gear 64 on an adjacent shaft 65. The

shaft 65 also mounts a pinion 66 which engages a large gear 67 which turns freely upon the shaft 34. Formed integrally with the gear 67 is a ratchet wheel 68. A pawl 69 is pivotally mounted upon a sector on the radial member 58. A cam member 71 on a pawl 74 contacts the pawl 69 and moves it to an engaged condition with respect to the ratchet wheel 68, while a corresponding cam 72 on the wall 38 disengages the pawl with respect to the ratchet wheel upon the movement of the radial member 58 from a lowermost limit of its path of travel to an uppermost limit thereof.

Extending forwardly of the radial member 58 on a pin 70 is a projecting stud 73 which cooperates with a locking pawl 74 on the pin 71' supported in turn from the wall 17. A spring 76 urges the pawl 74 in a normally upward direction. The pawl 74 mounts thereon a pin 77 which projects through a slot 78 in the front Wall 17, to be selectively engaged by a portion of a pivotally mounted lever 79 anchored for rotational movement by an inner portion of the plate 51. As may be seen from a consideration of FIGURE 2, downward movement of the lever 79 first disengages the pawl 74, and subsequent movement contacts an inwardly extending stud 54 supported by the plate 52.

Operation Operation of the device is commenced by placing a can 46 in contact with the feeler portion 45 of the lever member 43 and moving the same upwardly until the rim of the can is positioned beneath the edge of the cutting blade 47. This movement will close the switch 37, and commerce operation of the motor 27. As the device will normally be in relatively disengaged condition, the pawl 69 will have been engaged by the cam 71, whereby the can engaging means will be driven from the shaft 34. This motion will result in orbital movement of the radius member 58, wherein the toothed wheel 55 will move from the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. Upon arriving at the engaged condition, the rim of the can 46 will be firmly gripped between the wheel 55 and the blade 47, following which the pawl 69 will be disengaged by the cam 72, and the pawl 74 engaged with the pin 70 in the notch 75. When the can has rotated through substantially 360, the end portion thereof will have been severed, permitting the feeler portion 45 to drop, thereby interrupting operation of the electric motor 27. The device may remain in this condition until the can is removed by pressing downwardly upon the lever 79, which results in disengaging the pawl 74. This will normally return the can-engaging means to a disengaged position under the action of a spring 85. Should the can become jammed, continued pressure of the lever 79 will engage the stud 54 causing the plate 52 to be forceably rotated to move the radius member 53, permitting the can to be removed.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In an electrically driven can opener having a driven toothed wheel engaging a can, improved means for imparting translational movement to said toothed wheel comprising a first shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a radius member mounted for relative rotational movement upon said shaft, a second shaft supported upon said radius member for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said first shaft, a gear on said second shaft, said pinion driving said gear, said toothed wheel being supported for rotation with said second shaft, and means for imparting arcuate motion to said radius member, said last mentioned means including a second pinion fixed for rotation with said first shaft, a third shaft mounted for rotation parallel to said first shaft, a second gear on said third shaft, said second pinion driving said second gear, a third pinion fixed on said third shaft, a third gear on said first shaft and capable of relative movement with respect thereto, said third pinion driving said third gear; said third gear having clutch means for selectively engaging said radius member.

2. In an electrically driven can opener having a driven toothed wheel engaging a can, improved means for imparting translational movement to said toothed wheel comprising a first shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a radius member mounted for relative rotational movement upon said shaft, a second shaft supported upon said radius member for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said first shaft, a gear on said second shaft, said pinion driving said gear, said toothed wheel being supported for rotation with said second shaft, and means for imparting arcuate motion to said radius member, said last mentioned means including a second pinion fixed for rotation with said first shaft, a third shaft mounted for rotation parallel to said first shaft, a second gear on said third shaft, said second pinion driving said second gear, a third pinion fixed on said third shaft, a third gear on said first shaft and capable of relative movement with respect thereto, said third pinion driving said third gear; said third gear having clutch means for selectively engaging said radius member; and means for automatically engaging said clutch means when said toothed wheel is in disengaged condition relative to the rim of a can.

3. In an electrically driven can opener having a driven toothed wheel engaging a can, improved means for imparting translational movement to said toothed wheel comprising a first shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a radius member mounted for relative rotational movement upon said shaft, a second shaft supported upon said radius member for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said first shaft, a gear on said second shaft, said pinion driving said gear, said toothed wheel being supported for rotation with said second shaft, and means for imparting arcuate motion to said radius member, said last mentioned means including a second pinion fixed for rotation with said first shaft, a third shaft mounted for rotation parallel to said first shaft, a second gear on said third shaft, said second pinion driving said second gear, a third pinion fixed on said third shaft, a third gear on said first shaft and capable of relative movement with respect thereto, said third pinion driving said third gear; said third gear having clutch means for selectively engaging said radius member; means for automatically engaging said clutch means when said toothed wheel is in disengaged condition relative to the rim of a can; and means for automatically disengaging said clutch means upon engagement of said rim.

4. In an electrically driven can opener having a driven toothed wheel engaging a can, improved means for imparting translational movement to said toothed wheel comprising a first shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a radius member mounted for relative rotational movement upon said shaft, a second shaft supported upon said radius member for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said first shaft, a gear on said second shaft, said pinion driving said gear, said toothed wheel being supported for rotation with said second shaft, and means for imparting arcuate rnotion to said radius member, said last mentioned means including a second pinion fixed for rotation with said first shaft, a third shaft mounted for rotation parallel to said first shaft, a second gear on said third shaft, said second pinion driving said second gear, a third pinion fixed on said third shaft, a third gear on said first shaft and capable of relative movement with respect thereto, said third pinion driving said third gear; said third gear having clutch means for selectively engaging said radius member; means for automatically engaging said clutch means when said toothed wheel is in disengaged condition relative to the rim of a can; means for automatically disengaging said clutch means upon engagement of said rim, and

pawl means for retaining said radius member in fixed position upon the disengagement of said clutch means.

5. In an electrically driven can opener having a driven toothed vvheel engaging a can, improved means for imparting translational movement to said toothed wheel comprising a first shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a radius member mounted for relative rotational movement upon said shaft, 2. second shaft supported upon said radius member for rotation about an axis parallel to that of said first shaft, a gear on said second shaft, said pinion driving said gear, said toothed wheel being supported for rotation with said second shaft, and means for imparting arcuate motion to said radius member, said last mentioned means including a second pinion fixed for rotation with said first shaft, a third shaft mounted for rotation parallel to said first shaft, a second gear on said third shaft, said second pinion driving said second gear, a third pinion fixed on said third shaft, a third gear on said first shaft and capable of relative movement with respect thereto, said third pinion driving said third gear; said third gear having clutch means for selectively engaging said radius member; means for automatically engaging said clutch means when said toothed wheel is in disengaged condition relative to the rim of a can; means for automatically disengaging said clutch means upon engagement of said rim, and pawl means for retaining said radius member in position to maintain said toothed Wheel is engaged condition with 10 respect to a can.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,755,547 Hanby July 24, 1956 2,896,319 Pinette July 28, 1959 2,952,073 Congdon Sept. 13, 1960 

